Mr. Crockett is not currently teaching this course, so this page is not being updated with any regularity or predictability.
AP Environmental Science Resources
Unit 0: Introduction to Environmental Science
0.0 Introduction
LEARNING TARGETS
- 2.2 (Ecosystem Services)
- Dimensional Analysis
Unit 1: Ecosystems / Biosphere
1.1 Ecosystems and Terrestrial Biomes
LEARNING TARGETS:
- 1.2 (Terrestrial Biomes)
- 4.8 (Earth's Geography and Climate)
Notes
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Resources
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Key Vocabulary
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1.2 Population Ecology
LEARNING TARGETS
- 3.2 (K- and r-selected Species)
- 3.3 (Survivorship Curves)
- 3.4 (Carrying Capacity)
- 3.5 (Population Growth and Resource Availability)
- 3.6 (Age Structure Diagrams)
Notes
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Key Vocabulary
abundance (N) age structure diagram/pyramid biotic potential carrying capacity crude birth rate crude death rate density-dependent limiting factors density-independent limiting factors dynamic equilibrium exponential growth growth rate J-curve K-selected lag phase logistic growth population population density population distribution r-selected replacement level fertility S-curve sex ratio survivorship curves |
1.3 Community Ecology and Community Changes
LEARNING TARGETS
- 1.1 (Introduction to Ecosystems)
- 2.4 (Ecological Tolerance)
- 3.1 (Generalist and Specialist Species)
- 2.5 (Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems)
- 2.7 (Ecological Succession)
- 9.8 (Invasive Species)
Notes
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Resources
Resources
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Key Vocabulary
altruism amensalism commensalism community competitive exclusion fundamental niche generalist species herbivory interspecific competition intraspecific competition mutualism niche niche partitioning optimal range parasitism predation predator-prey curve realized niche specialist species symbiosis tolerance range |
1.4 Energy and Trophic Levels
LEARNING TARGETS
- 1.8 (Primary Productivity)
- 1.9 (Trophic Levels)
- 1.10 (Energy Flow and the 10% Rule)
- 1.11 (Food Chains and Food Webs)
- 8.8 (Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification)
Notes
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Key Vocabulary
10% rule aerobic anaerobic autotroph/producer bioaccumulation biomagnification biomass calorie carnivore cellular respiration chemosynthesis decomposer detritivore detritus ectotherm endotherm entropy First law of thermodynamics food chain and food web gross primary production herbivore heterotroph/consumer kinetic energy metabolic rate metabolism net primary production omnivore photosynthesis potential energy primary production Second Law of Thermodynamics secondary production trophic cascade trophic pyramid |
1.5 Biodiversity
LEARNING TARGETS
- 2.1 (Introduction to Biodiversity)
- 2.3 (Island Biogeography)
- 2.6 (Adaptations)
- 9.9 (Endangered Species)
- 9.10 (Human Impacts on Biodiversity)
1.6 Biogeochemical Cycles
LEARNING TARGETS
- 1.4 (Carbon Cycle)
- 1.5 (Nitrogen Cycle)
- 1.6 (Phosphorus Cycle)
- 1.7 (Hydrologic Cycle)
Unit 2: Humans / Anthroposphere
2.1 Human Population Dynamics
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
affluence age structure diagram/pyramid annual rate of increase contraceptive crude birth rates crude death rates demographic transition demography dependency ratio developed country developing country doubling time environmental refugees epidemiologic transition family planning famine fertility transition graying Human Development Index Human Poverty Index ICPD in Cairo immigration vs. emigration infant mortality rate IPAT Formula life expectancy longevity morbidity population forecast population momentum population profile replacement level social modernization Social Security total fertility rate |
2.2 Agriculture and the Future of Food
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
agricultural revolution arable land biological pest control broad spectrum pesticide Bt corn chemical pest control community-supported gardens Conservation Reserve Program drought food security genetic resistance GM / GMO / rDNA / transgenic golden rice Green Revolution greenbelt hunter-gatherers integrated pest management malnutrition monoculture Neolithic Revolution organic agriculture overnutrition permaculture pesticide tolerance pesticide treadmill precautionary principle salinization seed bank selective breeding subsistence farmers sustainable agriculture undernourishment underweight USDA weed (i.e. plant pest) yield |
2.3 Environmental Health (Pollution and Disease)
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
acute toxicity allergen animal testing antagonistic effect bioaccumulation biomagnification bioremediation brownfields carcinogen CDC chronic toxicity DDT Delaney Clause dose-response curve endocrine disruptor environmental health environmental tobacco smoke epidemiology hazard assessment HAZMAT LD50 Material Safety Data Sheet mutagen neurotoxin OSHA pathogen persistent pesticide drift phytoremediation precautionary principle Silent Spring Superfund synergistic effect teratogen threshold level of toxicity toxicology vector |
2.4 Urbanization
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
ecovillage exurb vs. suburb gentrification high speed rail infrastructure land-use planning light pollution light rail mass transit mixed-use development noise pollution resource sinks shantytowns slums smart growth suburban/urban sprawl urban crisis urban growth boundary urban heat island urbanization walkability zoning |
Unit 3: Land / Lithosphere
3.1 Geologic Processes
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
asthenosphere convergent boundary divergent boundary earthquake geologic time scale hot spot igneous rock latitude and longitude lithosphere magma vs. lava metamorphic rock mineral plate tectonics Richter scale sedimentary rock seismograph subduction zone surface impoundment tectonic plate transform boundary volcano (3 types) |
3.2 Minerals and Mining
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
acid mine drainage contour strip mining gangue mountain top removal no-till farming open-pit mining ore overburden pit mining reclamation strip mining subsurface mining |
3.3 Soil
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
bedrock castings cation exchange nutrient-holding capacity parent material pH scale soil fertility soil horizons soil permeability soil porosity soil profile soil texture topsoil waterlogging loam weathering soil triangle humus |
3.4 Forestry, Rangeland, and Public Lands
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
center pivot irrigation clear cutting conservation district contour farming controlled burn crop rotation deforestation desert pavement desertification desiccation Dust Bowl edge effects erosion fire-based ecosystem inorganic fertilizer intercropping irrigation Land Trust low-input farming mineralization monoculture National Forest National Park National Wildlife Refuge old growth forest organic fertilizer overgrazing reforestation salinization seed tree harvesting selective cutting shelterbelt shelterwood slash and burn strip cutting terracing tree plantation wilderness World Heritage Site |
3.5 Managing Solid Waste
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
biodegradable material bioremediation bottle bills CERCLA / Superfund compost deep-well injection e-waste hazardous waste incineration of waste injection wells landfill gas leachate leaching life cycle analysis materials recovery facilities (MRF) municipal solid waste neutralization of waste RCRA sanitary landfill scrubbers solid waste source reduction surface impoundment waste recovery waste stream waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities recycling |
Unit 4: Water / Hydrosphere
4.1 Freshwater Resources and Ecosystems
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
benthic zone capillary water cone of depression confined or artesian aquifer consumptive vs. nonconsumptive water use desalinization distillation floodplain gray water green water vs. blue water groundwater infiltration irrigation land subsidence limnetic zone littoral zone Ogallala Aquifer oxbow photic zone profundal zone recharge area/zone reverse osmosis riparian saltwater intrusion sink hole surface water tributary unconfined aquifer water table watershed xeriscaping zone of aeration zone of saturation |
4.2 Water Quality and Pollution
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
bioaccumulation biological oxygen demand biomagnification Clean Water Act dissolved oxygen eutrophication fecal coliform heavy metals maximum contaminant levels nonpoint pollution oligotrophic oxygen sag curve pathogens point pollution sediment pollution thermal pollution turbidity water hardness |
4.3 Wastewater Treatment
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
biological treatment chlorinator flocculant grit chamber preliminary treatment primary treatment raw sewage secondary treatment septic system tertiary treatment |
4.4 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
abyssal zone atoll barrier island bathyal zone bathymetry vs. topography benthic zone brackish water continental shelf continental slope coral bleaching coral reef downwelling estuary hydrothermal vents hypoxic or anoxic area International Whaling Commission intertidal (littoral) zone kelp forests mangroves Marine Mammal Protection Act marsh ocean acidification ocean current pelagic photic zone phyto vs. zooplankton pycnocline red tide salt marsh upwelling wetland |
4.5 Fishing and Aquaculture
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
aquaculture by-catch catch share driftnets exclusive economic zone extirpation longline marine protected area (MPA) marine reserve overharvesting territorial waters tragedy of the commons trawling |
Unit 5: Air / Atmosphere
5.1 Atmosphere
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
adiabatic heating/cooling advection albedo altitude vs. elevation atmosphere aurora borealis/australis axis of rotation barometer climate vs. weather convection current dew points doldrums El Nino Southern Oscillation electromagnetic spectrum exosphere Ferrell cells fog fronts Gulf Stream gyre Hadley cell high pressure system horse latitudes insolation ionosphere jet stream La Nina latent heat release low pressure system mesosphere Milankovitch cycles monsoon NE trade winds noble gases North Atlantic Drift polar cell polar vortex positive feedback system precautionary principle proxies rainshadow effect saturation point solar irradience stratosphere subtropical desert belts thermal (or temperature) inversion thermohaline circulation thermosphere tropopause troposphere waldsterben westerlies |
5.2 Air Pollution, the Ozone Layer, and Acid Rain
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
acid rain (acid deposition) acid shock aerosols ambient concentration area source asthma benzene bronchitis Brown Air CAFE standards carbon monoxide catalytic converter chlorine catalytic cycle chlorine reservoirs chlorofluorocarbons Clean Air Act emission allowances emphysema fugitive source Gray Air hydroxyl radical industrial smog lead poisoning London Smog Crisis NAAQS nitrogen oxide ozone ozone shield photochemical oxidants photochemical smog photodissociation primary pollutant radon poisoning secondary pollutant sick building syndrome volatile organic compound |
5.3 Global Climate Change
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
global warming global warming potential greenhouse effect greenhouse gas (GHG) infrared radiation IPCC Montreal Protocol radiative forcing UVA radiation UVB radiation |
Unit 6: Energy
6.1 Energy Consumption, Fossil Fuels, and Energy Conservation
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
anthracite ANWR biogenic natural gas bituminous BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill CAFE standards calorie carbon neutral carbon tax Carboniferous Period cogeneration conduction convection conversion losses earth-sheltered housing electric demand electric generator electric grid electric transformer Energy Star energy subsidies estimated vs. proven reserves Exxon Valdez oil spill First Law of Thermodynamics fluorescent vs. incandescent light fossil fuels Hubbert's curve hybrid automobile |
hydrocarbons
joule kerogen kerosene Kuwaiti Oil Fires lignite net energy yield net metering oil field oil sands oil shale OPEC peak oil peat power (physics) power blackout power brownout primary energy source primary oil recovery production tax credits reserves-to-production ratio Second Law of Thermodynamics secondary energy source secondary oil recovery Strategic Petroleum Reserve thermal pollution thermal power plant thermogenic natural gas work (physics) |
6.2 Nuclear Energy
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
breeder reactors Chernobyl cooling tower INPO ionization counter Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant meltdown milling (nuclear) nuclear fission nuclear fusion nuclear power plant radiation radioactive decay radioactive emissions radioactive half-life radioactive waste Three Mile Island U-238 vs. U-235 yellowcake (nuclear) Yucca Mountain |
6.3 Renewable Energy Resources
LEARNING TARGETS
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Key Vocabulary
biofuel biogas biomass electrolysis ethanol fish ladder flexible fuel vehicles geothermal energy hydroelectric power hydroelectric power hydrogen fuel cell methanol ocean thermal energy conversion passive solar heating photoelectric effect photovoltaic cell solar cell solar constant solar cooker solar energy solar space heating solar thermal collector solar water heating Staebler-Wronski Effect Three Gorges Dam tidal power wind farms |